Book excerpt: Explore real-world questions in your class! Exploring real-life applications of science concepts helps students relate academic material to their own experiences. Explanations of high-interest topics allow students to make meaningful connections between class work and the world. This title is correlated to National Science Education Standards to ensure that learning goals are addressed and features answers to the following questions and more: Why don't they use normal air in racecar tires; how does a microwave heat food; and what if you fell out of an airplane without a parachute?